Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has indicated plans to appeal a Federal High Court judgment declaring former governor Rochas Okorocha the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday nullified Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate and ruled that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Uzodimma’s name with that of Okorocha on the list of candidates for the election.
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Reacting to the judgment, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, said the governor’s camp would pursue available legal options to challenge the decision.
Emelumba faulted the court’s handling of the case, arguing that the suit was filed outside the time allowed for pre-election disputes. He also questioned the use of originating summons to determine allegations involving forgery and perjury.
The state APC Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, also maintained that Uzodimma remained the party’s candidate, adding that the party’s legal department would study the judgment before deciding on its next move.
However, Okorocha’s Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, welcomed the ruling, saying the court had granted the former governor’s requests and affirmed him as the lawful winner of the primary.
In its judgment, the court faulted inconsistencies in documents presented by the APC to support Uzodimma’s nomination. It held that the evidence before it showed that Okorocha secured the majority of lawful votes cast during the primary.
The dispute followed the party’s conflicting accounts of the primary, including documents indicating different voting arrangements and results.
The judgment has left the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket contested, with Okorocha relying on the court’s decision and Uzodimma’s camp preparing to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
